CVE-2022-21807 is a high-severity vulnerability affecting Intel(R) VTune(TM) Profiler software versions prior to 2022.2.0. The vulnerability arises from uncontrolled search path elements, classified under CWE-427 (Uncontrolled Search Path Element). This flaw allows an authenticated local user with limited privileges to escalate their privileges on the affected system. Specifically, the software improperly handles the search paths used to locate executable or library files, enabling an attacker to insert malicious files or manipulate the search order to execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges. The vulnerability requires local access and authentication, but no user interaction beyond that is necessary. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 7.8, reflecting high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability (all rated high), with low attack complexity and privileges required, and no user interaction needed. Although no known exploits are reported in the wild, the vulnerability poses a significant risk in environments where Intel VTune Profiler is deployed, especially in development or performance analysis contexts where the software runs with elevated privileges or accesses sensitive system resources.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2022-21807 can be substantial, particularly in sectors relying on Intel VTune Profiler for performance monitoring and software optimization, such as technology firms, research institutions, and manufacturing companies using advanced computing. Successful exploitation could allow an attacker with local authenticated access to gain higher privileges, potentially leading to unauthorized access to sensitive data, modification or disruption of system processes, and the installation of persistent malware. This could compromise intellectual property, disrupt critical operations, and lead to regulatory non-compliance under GDPR if personal data confidentiality is breached. Given the high integrity and availability impact, organizations might face operational downtime or data corruption, affecting business continuity and trust. The requirement for local authenticated access somewhat limits remote exploitation but does not eliminate risk, especially in environments with multiple users or insufficient access controls.

To mitigate CVE-2022-21807, European organizations should: 1) Immediately upgrade Intel VTune Profiler to version 2022.2.0 or later, where the vulnerability is patched. 2) Restrict access to systems running VTune Profiler to trusted and authorized personnel only, enforcing strict local user account management and minimizing the number of users with access. 3) Implement application whitelisting and integrity verification mechanisms to detect and prevent unauthorized modifications to search path elements or executable files used by VTune Profiler. 4) Employ endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions to monitor for suspicious local privilege escalation attempts. 5) Conduct regular audits of software configurations and environment variables related to VTune Profiler to ensure no unauthorized changes to search paths exist. 6) Educate users about the risks of local privilege escalation and enforce strong authentication and session management policies to reduce the risk of credential compromise. These steps go beyond generic patching by focusing on access control, monitoring, and environment hardening specific to this vulnerability.